Guardians Of The Galaxy becomes highest-grossing movie of 2014 taking in a total $262m at the US box office following huge Labor Day weekend ticket sales

Guardians Of The Galaxy topped the first day of the US holiday weekend box office on Friday, adding another $3.8 million to become the highest-grossing movie of 2014, raking in a total of $262.1 million domestically.

The film, which features some of Marvel's lesser known comic book heroes, was able to beat out highly-popular superhero sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which was released in April.

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Unlikely heroes: Guardians Of The Galaxy led the Friday box office during the US holiday weekend, becoming the top-grossing film of 2014, totalling $262.1 million

Starring Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana, the movie was released four weeks ago to the highest debut weekend in August, grossing $94.3 million domestically.

The space-adventure blockbuster has been able to take advantage of the weak end-of-summer competition.

'This movie just couldn't have come at a better time,' said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak.

New heroes in town: With the strong Friday, Guardians was able to beat out Captain America: The Winter Soldier starring Chris Evans, which was released in April

'When we were really down and out in the summer box office - at one point down 20 per cent from last year - Guardians came along and injected life.

'What is surprising is that it was a film launched in August.'

Guardians was able to beat out thriller As Above, So Below, which made its debut on Friday to the tune of $3.2 million, coming in at number two at the box office.

Chills and thrills: Horror film As Above, So Below starring Perdita Weeks (pictured) made $3.2 million for its debut on Friday for second place at the box office

The horror flick centres around a team of explorers who venture into the catacombs beneath the streets of Paris only to uncover a dark secret.

The John Erick Dowdle film features a cast of virtual unknowns including Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge, François Civil and Marion Lambert.

Heroes in a half-shell: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, starring Megan Fox, came in third on Friday with $2.3 million to a total of $153.3 million domestically

Melodrama: Chloe Grace Moretz's tearjerker If I Stay came in fourth with $2.3 million

Coming in third was Megan Fox and Will Arnett blockbuster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, bringing in $2.3 million on Friday, which was a 41 per cent drop from last week.

If I stay, starring Chloe Grace Moretz, brought in $2.3 million for fourth and a total of $23.2 million domestically.

Rounding out the top five was the highest grossing release of the week, The November Man, starring Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, which brought in $2.2 million for a total of $3.9 million since its release on Wednesday.

Biggest debut of the week: Pierce Brosnan's action flick The November Man rounded out the top five for Friday with $2.2 million for a total of $3.9 domestically since its Wednesday release